About the artisan
☩ Florent giraud ☩
My name is Florent Giraud, founder of Tarotgraphe and a Marseille born artisan dedicated to the restoration and creation of historical Tarot de Marseille and French portrait playing card decks.
My journey did not begin with a business plan or a formal apprenticeship, but with a lifelong fascination for the objects of the past: their craftsmanship, their materials, and the stories they preserve. Over the years, my interests in photography, graphic design, and historical research gradually became essential tools in my work as a restorer and craftsman.
The origins of Tarotgraphe can be traced back to a personal quest. While searching for a faithful reproduction of the rare Tarot de Marseille of Claude Valentin and Guillaume Dubesset, I discovered that no authentic reconstruction of this historical deck had been produced for centuries. Unable to find the deck I was looking for, I decided to restore it myself.
What began as a personal project soon became a much deeper exploration of forgotten craftsmanship. Through the study of old manuals, historical documents, and archival sources, I rediscovered the techniques once used by the master cardmakers of Marseille during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. My aim was not simply to reproduce old decks, but to understand the gestures, materials, and knowledge that shaped them.
Today, every restoration begins with an original historical deck preserved in a museum or private collection. Each card is carefully photographed and digitally restored in order to recover its original clarity, while preserving the traces of time that give the deck its character and authenticity.
Once the restoration is complete, the deck is recreated using methods inspired by the traditional practices of the Marseille master cardmakers. Printed on carefully selected papers, the sheets are assembled by hand, pressed, smoothed, and finished through a patient process that follows the spirit of historical craftsmanship rather than modern industrial production.
For me, restoring these decks is not merely a matter of reproduction. It is an attempt to reconnect each Tarot with the craftsmanship, materials, and artistic tradition from which it originally emerged.
What began with the restoration of a single historical deck has gradually become a lifelong dedication: preserving the heritage of Marseille cardmaking and bringing forgotten works back to life for collectors, historians, and those who feel a connection with the beauty and spirit of the past.
![[Handcrafted] Valentin & Dubesset (78c)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/642457cd793b406730e032a0/67cbcfd7-7501-4982-98e7-deb3ad457add/claude.jpg)
ENGLISH VERSION BELLOW
Restauration : Restauration complète des tracés et des couleurs conformément à mes connaissances en histoire de l’art
78 arcanes + 1 carte de présentation.
Cartes de tarot : 65mm x 118mm (taille originale)
Découpé à la main
Impression numérique sur papier de coton artisanal français.
Contre-collage deux feuilles de 160g /m² (total 320g / carte)
Lissage au savon de Marseille (en option +50€)
Coins arrondis en option (+10€)
Savoir-faire provençal
Edition limitée (2nd édition).
Exemplaires numérotés et signés.
Enveloppe traditionnelle offerte (lorsque l’option “boîte artisanale” n’est pas sélectionnée).
Boîte artisanale en option (+40€)
Chaque jeu est accompagné d’une carte surprise provenant d’un autre jeu.
Reproduit avec l’autorisation du British Museum.
Poids : 250g
![[Handcrafted] Valentin & Dubesset (22c)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/642457cd793b406730e032a0/75c53c3a-7e40-444d-a2ee-aa1c055bedc2/13.jpg)
ENGLISH VERSION BELLOW
Restauration : Restauration complète des tracés et des couleurs conformément à mes connaissances en histoire de l’art
78 arcanes + 1 carte de présentation.
Cartes de tarot : 65mm x 118mm (taille originale)
Découpé à la main
Impression numérique sur papier de coton artisanal français.
Contre-collage deux feuilles de 160g /m² (total 320g / carte)
Lissage au savon de Marseille (en option +25€)
Coins arrondis en option (+5€)
Savoir-faire provençal
Edition limitée (2nd édition).
Exemplaires numérotés et signés.
Enveloppe traditionnelle offerte (lorsque l’option “boîte artisanale” n’est pas sélectionnée).
Boîte artisanale en option (+30€).
Chaque jeu est accompagné d’une carte surprise provenant d’un autre jeu.
Reproduit avec l’autorisation du British Museum.
Poids : 250g
☩ spirituality ☩
☩ my spiritual journey with the tarot ☩
From a very young age, I was drawn to theological and existential questions, and I spent many years searching for a form of Western spirituality whose richness and depth have largely been forgotten in the modern world.
It was along this path that I discovered the Marseille Tarot in 2013. This encounter with such an enigmatic and profound work immediately awakened my curiosity and would gradually transform both my personal life and my artistic path.
After nearly ten years devoted to the study of the symbols, meanings, and historical traditions surrounding the Marseille Tarot, I began sharing my research professionally in 2021 through Le Bateleur Tarologie (2021–2023). Over time, however, I discovered that the Marseille Tarot carried a far deeper heritage than I had first imagined.
The Marseille Tarot gradually became a companion on my spiritual journey, a symbolic language through which I could contemplate the mysteries of existence and deepen my relationship with the Divine.
This passion eventually led, in 2023, to the creation of Tarotgraphe: an atelier dedicated to restoring and recreating historical Tarot de Marseille decks according to the traditional craftsmanship of the Marseille master cardmakers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Alongside my work as an artisan, my desire to understand the deeper meaning of the Marseille Tarot led me to study Neoplatonic and Hermetic philosophy, Catholic and Kabbalistic theology, as well as astrology and alchemy.
These studies profoundly shaped my understanding of the world, reconnecting me with a vision of reality that embraces both the visible and invisible dimensions of existence, as it was understood by many of our ancestors.
Today, through Tarotgraphe, I seek to offer historical Marseille Tarot decks crafted according to the traditions of my birthplace and to share, with those who feel drawn to them, the fruits of a lifelong journey of study, craftsmanship, and contemplation.
VERSION FR
(PLUS BAS)
Join this online workshop ! You will learn what is Lectio Divina and how to apply this spiritual practice to the Tarot of Marseille in order to awaken the soul and guide you back to the Source.
TAROT & LECTIO DIVINA
How to Use the Marseille Tarot According to the Philosophy of Marsilio Ficino
{Workshop replay}
2 hour workshop + PDF to experience the Divine Presence through the Marseille tarot
Let yourself be transformed by the Divine through the practice of Lectio Divina applied to the Marseille tarot!
Would you like to discover a different way to use your Marseille tarot ?
Are you eager to experience Hermetic and Neoplatonic wisdom ?
Would you like to learn how to meditate with the 22 trumps of the Tarot ?
Do you long to connect with the Divine within you?
Then this workshop is for you!
« There exists between the body and the intellect a middle world that of the soul through which man can rise from matter to God. The stars, harmonies, and images touch this middle world: not to imprison us within it, but to awaken in us the longing for the heights. »
— Marsile Ficin, De Vita Coelitus Comparanda chap. IX
thE MARSEILLE tarot : a tool designed to elevate the soul toward the celestial sphereS..
Hermetic and Ficinian philosophy teaches us that sacred images serve as intermediaries between the sensible world (the material world) and the intelligible world (the divine realm). This is why the Marseille tarot is such a powerful tool—it offers us privileged access to the Divine / God / the Ineffable / the Absolute / the Light, and so on.
This 2 hour video workshop (with included PDF) is an immersive journey into the traditional philosophy behind the Tarot of Marseille. You’ll discover how the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina, adapted to the Marseille Tarot, allows you to reach increasingly subtle planes—and in doing so, transform your soul.
What makes this workshop unique?
In addition to learning the step-by-step methodology of Lectio Divina applied to the Marseille tarot, you’ll experience a worldview rooted in several profound philosophical and esoteric traditions.
You’ll leave this workshop with a clear, understanding of the spiritual practice of LECTIO DIVINA. But beyond that, you’ll be invited to embark on an initiatory journey into ancient wisdom drawn from four major traditions: Platonism, Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, and Christian esotericism of the Renaissance.
Prerequisites for this workshop: an open mind, a deep desire to elevate your soul, and a basic knowledge of the Tarot.
In this workshop, our aim is not to impose a doctrine, but to open a path to offer a tool for diving into asymbolic and meditative reading of the Major Arcana of the Tarot, in order to nourish your inner transformation..
what is Lectio Divina ?
Originally, Lectio Divina is an ancient spiritual practice used in monasteries to experience the Celestial Fire within oneself through the sacred Scriptures. This practice is made up of four steps:
Lectio : a careful and attentive reading of the tarot card
Méditatio : an introspective meditation on the card
Oratio : a meditative prayer based on the insights revealed in the previous phase
Contemplatio : an inner experience of the Divine and the activation of the alchemical Celestial Fire
We believe it is essential to free this ancient spiritual practice from any religious dogma so that it can serve all souls seeking a return to the Source. In this workshop, we offer an initiation into the practice of ancestral prayer through the 22 trumps of the Marseille Tarot.
This practice is intended to nourish the soul, foster intimate self-knowledge and awareness of divine reality, and allow oneself to be transformed by the Divine through the power of the Celestial Fire.
workshop outline :
I) Historical Context of the Tarot of Marseille & Lectio Divina
II) Protecting the Soul During the Practice
III) The 4 Steps of Lectio Divina
IV) Practical Case Study
V) Guided Practice of Lectio Divina
Question / réponse
pratical informations :
ONLINE WORKSHOP REPLAY: Tarot & Lectio Divina
Language : English
Video duration :approximately 2 hours
PDF document : 24 pages summarizing the key teachings, along with additional resources if you wish to go further on your own
Support available : you can send us your questions via the contact form to receive guidance in your practice
Access : both the PDF and the video workshop are available immediately after payment
Workshop price : 39€
WHO ARE THE WORKSHOP PRESENTERS ?
This workshop is led by Florent and Roxane.
Both passionate about the Marseille tarot and spirituality, Florent founded the company “Tarotgraphe”, which aims to revive the original tradition of the Marseille tarot, both in the way of creating decks and in the transmission of the spiritual philosophy behind it.
Roxane, for her part, worked as a life coach for nearly 10 years before joining the “Tarotgraphe” adventure in 2024. Alongside Tarotgraphe, she also offers spiritual guidance and support.
Florent and Roxane combine their complementary skills to guide you step by step in your practice of Lectio Divina applied to the Marseille tarot.
Shaped by Art
☩ A Lifelong Relationship with Art ☩
Alongside my fascination with historical craftsmanship, I have always been deeply drawn to the world of art. This passion led me to study Art History and Fine Arts, first through literary studies with a specialization in these fields, and later through further studies in Art History and Archaeology at the University of Provence Aix-Marseille.
From an early age, I was captivated by Renaissance painting, medieval art, and the architecture of past centuries. Beyond their beauty, I was fascinated by the way these works embodied the values, beliefs, and aspirations of the civilizations that created them. At the same time, I developed a deep interest in photography and digital image restoration, spending countless hours studying, capturing, and refining images. These skills would later become essential to my work restoring historical Tarot decks.
Alongside my work as a traditional cardmaker, I continue to explore other forms of historical craftsmanship. I restore and recreate devotional images inspired by medieval and early modern iconography, guided by a deep admiration for the sacred imagery of the Middle Ages. I also practice traditional woodcut engraving, following the visual language and techniques of Europe's early printmakers.
For me, art reaches its highest purpose when it transcends mere decoration and becomes a means of serving something greater than the artist himself. Beauty is not an end in itself, but a path toward truth, goodness, and the contemplation of the Creator. Like the craftsmen and artists of past centuries, I believe that the noblest works are those created in humility, in the service of God, tradition, faith, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
VERSION FR CI-DESSOUS
Woodcut
This image is reproduced from an original fifteenth-century woodcut by Ludwig of Ulm, preserved in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Active in Germany between 1450 and 1470, Ludwig of Ulm was among the earliest producers of printed devotional images. This remarkable woodcut bears witness to late medieval Catholic devotion to the Passion of Christ and reflects the enduring mysteries of the Christian faith.
The reverse features an excerpt from the Gospel of Luke recounting Christ's Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane in french, latin or english (Jerusalem bible traduction).
High-definition archival reproduction, individually hand-mounted onto two sheets of 160 gsm handmade laid cotton paper using traditional methods (total 320 gsm).
Traditional smoothing with Marseille soap to enhance colour vibrancy and improve durability, available as an optional finish.
Overall: 11.1 x 8 cm (4 3/8 x 3 1/8 in.)
VERSION FR CI-DESSOUS
Hand-painted Woodcut
This image is reproduced from an original fifteenth-century woodcut by an anonymous artist, preserved in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Produced during the 15th century, this art is among the earliest production of printed devotional images. This remarkable woodcut bears witness to late medieval Catholic marian devotion to immaculate conception and reflects the enduring mysteries of the Christian faith.
The reverse features excerpts from a homily by John of Damascus and from the Transitus Mariae, offering an early Christian perspective on this mystery.
Hand-painted woodcut, individually coloured using pochoir techniques and hand-mounted onto two sheets of 160 gsm handmade laid cotton paper using traditional methods (320 gsm total).
Traditional smoothing with Marseille soap to enhance colour vibrancy and improve durability, available as an optional finish.
Overall: 11.1 x 8 cm (4 3/8 x 3 1/8 in.)
☩ OUR mission ☩
In a world increasingly shaped by speed, convenience, and industrial production, my mission is to preserve another vision of craftsmanship: one founded on patience, knowledge, and respect for tradition.
Through Tarotgraphe, I seek to reconnect the Tarot de Marseille with the materials, techniques, and expertise that shaped its origins. Beyond the cards themselves, this work is a way of preserving a unique artistic heritage and keeping alive a craft that has nearly vanished.
Each deck is created with the conviction that historical objects deserve more than a simple reproduction. They deserve to be studied, restored with respect, and transmitted to future generations with fidelity to their original character and spirit.
My ambition is not merely to recreate old Tarot decks, but to contribute, in my own humble way, to the continuation of a centuries-old tradition and to the enduring legacy of the Marseille master cardmakers.